Long ago, in the days when animals and men could still change their forms, there lived a man who was known far and wide for his idleness. He had strength in his body and youth on his side, yet he refused to use them. While other men tilled their farms, hunted in the forest, and fetched water for their families, this man stretched his limbs in the open fields and lay under the heat of the blazing sun.
Morning after morning, when the roosters crowed and villagers stirred, he would rise only to walk slowly toward a patch of soft grass. There he would settle down, place his arms behind his head, and close his eyes. Instead of the sound of tools striking the earth, all that could be heard from him was the steady rhythm of his snoring.
The villagers shook their heads and whispered about him. “A man who eats but does not work will one day learn the weight of hunger,” they said. But still, the man ignored their words. He believed that others would always provide food, while he enjoyed the comfort of rest.
One day, the Sun who watched over all the earth grew restless. From his high seat in the sky, the Sun gazed down upon the earth and saw the farmers sweating as they bent over their crops, women balancing water pots on their heads, hunters returning with game, and children helping with chores. Every creature was busy with purpose. But then the Sun’s eyes rested on the lazy man lying carelessly in the middle of the field. His body gleamed under the scorching rays, yet he did not move.
The Sun burned hotter, thinking perhaps the heat would stir him to rise. Still the man remained stretched out, sighing in pleasure at the warmth. The Sun grew angry. He spoke in a voice that rumbled through the skies and shook the trees.
“O man, you are strong, yet you choose idleness. While others labor and sweat, you waste your days in sleep. If you will not work as a man, then you shall serve as a beast. From this day forth, you will carry burdens upon your back and serve the needs of men.”
Before the man could rise to protest, a change came over his body. His arms stretched long and grew thick with muscle. His legs bent and hardened into hooves. His neck lengthened, and his voice turned into a sharp neigh. A mane of coarse hair fell along his back, and his skin glistened like polished brown leather. The man had become a horse.
The villagers, who had gathered to see what was happening, stepped back in awe. They gasped as they watched the transformation with wide eyes. The lazy man no longer stood among them. Instead, a powerful horse pawed the ground, shaking his head and snorting.
From that moment, the horse belonged to men. He was yoked to carts, saddled for riding, and made to carry heavy loads from village to village. Where once he had refused to lift a hand in labor, he now had no choice but to serve with all the strength of his body.
And so, people say, this is how the horse came to live among men as their faithful servant. It is a reminder that laziness never goes unpunished and that those who refuse to use their gifts may lose them entirely.
Moral Lesson of Horse Cursed by Sun
The story of Horse Cursed by Sun teaches that laziness carries great consequences. A man who refuses to work may one day find himself in a worse position than those he scorned. Hard work brings dignity and respect, while idleness invites shame and burden.
Knowledge Check: Horse Cursed by Sun
What was the main flaw of the man in the story Horse Cursed by Sun?
The man’s flaw was laziness, as he refused to work while others labored.How did the villagers react to the lazy man’s behavior in Horse Cursed by Sun?
They shook their heads, warned him, and whispered about his idleness, but he ignored them.Why did the Sun become angry in Horse Cursed by Sun?
The Sun grew angry because while every creature was working, the man lay idle in the heat, wasting his life.What punishment did the man receive in Horse Cursed by Sun?
The Sun cursed him by turning him into a horse, forcing him to carry loads and serve men.What transformation took place in Horse Cursed by Sun?
The man’s arms and legs changed into strong limbs and hooves, his voice became a neigh, and he fully transformed into a horse.What is the key moral lesson of Horse Cursed by Sun?
The lesson is that laziness leads to downfall, while hard work ensures dignity and purpose.Source: Nigerian oral folktale passed down through traditional storytelling, preserved among Yoruba and other communities of Nigeria as a cautionary tale about laziness and responsibility.
